Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, vocalist Anders Colsefni and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band stabilised with nine members for more than a decade, including Crahan, Gray, Joey Jordison, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn and Jim Root. Slipknot is known for its distinctive visual presentation, aggressive musical style, and intense live performances. The band’s debut demo album, "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.", did not achieve commercial success, but Slipknot rose to prominence with its self-titled debut studio album "Slipknot" in 1999. The follow-up, "Iowa" (2001), featured a darker and heavier sound and further increased the band’s popularity. After a hiatus, the band returned with "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" in 2004 and later released "All Hope Is Gone" in 2008, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. Subsequent releases include ".5: The Gray Chapter" (2014), "We Are Not Your Kind" (2019), and "The End, So Far" (2022). Slipknot has also released live albums such as "9.0: Live" and "Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico", as well as the compilation "Antennas to Hell". The band has sold millions of records worldwide. Paul Gray died in 2010 and was temporarily replaced by Donnie Steele. Joey Jordison departed in 2013. Later lineup changes included the addition of Alessandro Venturella and Jay Weinberg, the dismissal of Chris Fehn in 2019 and his replacement by Michael Pfaff, and the departures of Craig Jones and Weinberg in 2023. Weinberg was replaced by Eloy Casagrande. Before Slipknot formed, several members were active in the Des Moines metal scene. Jim Root played in Atomic Opera, Joey Jordison founded Modifidious, and Shawn Crahan led Heads on the Wall. Anders Colsefni and Paul Gray were involved in Vexx, and Colsefni later formed Painface. Other early collaborations included Inveigh Catharsis and Body Pit. In 1995, Crahan, Colsefni and Gray formed a group initially known as the Pale Ones, later joined by Jordison and others. Slipknot self-released "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat." in 1996 and began attracting attention locally. Corey Taylor was recruited from Stone Sour, and the band signed with Roadrunner Records in 1998. After recording their debut album, Slipknot gained wider recognition through touring, including participation in Ozzfest. Singles such as "Wait and Bleed" and "Spit It Out" contributed to their growing audience. "Iowa" (2001) achieved significant chart success and produced singles including "Left Behind" and "My Plague". Following its release, the band went on hiatus, during which members pursued other projects such as Murderdolls, To My Surprise, and solo work by Sid Wilson. Despite speculation about a breakup, the band resumed activity and released "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" in 2004. The album included singles such as "Duality" and "Before I Forget", the latter earning a Grammy Award. After another hiatus, Slipknot released "All Hope Is Gone" in 2008. The album marked a commercial peak but was followed by internal tensions and Gray’s death in 2010. The band resumed touring in 2011, with Steele performing bass offstage. They appeared at major festivals alongside bands such as Iron Maiden and Metallica, and launched their own festival, Knotfest, featuring acts such as Deftones, Lamb of God and Serj Tankian. The band’s fifth studio album, ".5: The Gray Chapter", was released in 2014 and reflected themes related to Gray’s death. During this period, Jordison’s departure was later attributed to health issues, and new members were introduced. Slipknot continued touring, including performances with Korn and King 810. In 2019, Slipknot released "We Are Not Your Kind", preceded by singles such as "Unsainted" and "Solway Firth". Chris Fehn departed the band amid a legal dispute. The album cycle included touring with artists such as Gojira, Volbeat and Behemoth. During this period, the band also worked on experimental material influenced in part by Radiohead. "The End, So Far" was released in 2022 as the band’s final album with Roadrunner Records. Around this time, former drummer Joey Jordison died. In 2023, Craig Jones and Jay Weinberg left the band. In 2024, Eloy Casagrande, formerly of Sepultura, joined as drummer. The band continued touring, including anniversary shows marking 25 years since their debut album, and announced work on a new studio album. Slipknot’s career has been characterised by frequent lineup changes, evolving musical styles, and sustained commercial success within the heavy metal genre. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipknot_(band) Studio albums Slipknot (1999) Iowa (2001) Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses (2004) All Hope Is Gone (2008) .5: The Gray Chapter (2014) We Are Not Your Kind (2019) The End, So Far (2022)